Data recording device, data recording method, data reproducing device and data reproducing method

ABSTRACT

When the size of a file which has been read out from a magnetic disc unit less than a predetermined value, a CPU the file onto a magnetic tape of a magnetic tape unit as an archive file of a standard form to which attribute information where its size is represented by octal numeral is added. On the other hand, when the size of the file is the predetermined value or more, the CPU records such a file onto the magnetic tape as an archive file of an expanded form to which attribute information where the size of the file is represented by hexadecimal numeral and including identification symbol indicating hexadecimal representation is added. Where the attribute information of the recorded archive file does not include identification symbol, the archive file is reproduced as a standard form. Where the attribute information includes identification symbol, the archive file is reproduced as an expanded form.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a data recording apparatus and a datarecording method for recording a large capacity file onto a recordingmedium, and a data reproducing apparatus and a data reproducing methodfor reproducing a large capacity file recorded on a recording medium.

BACKGROUND ART

As well known, in computer systems where a UNIX (Registered Trade Mark)is used as an OS, there are prepared a TAR (Tape Archive/Restore)command and a CPIO (CoPy Input/Output) command as commands (utilityprograms) for recording files onto a recording medium.

The TAR command is a command for transferring various files stored in,e.g., a magnetic disc unit to a magnetic tape unit as they are to recordsuch files as backups. To the contrary, the CPIO command is a commandfor recording (copying) not only individual files but also all filesystems by the so-called CPIO format in which they are collected intoone archive (stack) file.

In a data recording method using the CPIO command, various files storedin the magnetic disc unit are caused to be backed up in the magnetictape unit. In addition, such a data recording method is used whenshifting files between different platforms, and can cope with a filesize up to 8 gigabytes at the maximum in the system.

However, as symbolized by realization of broad band of internet, etc.,recently there is a tendency such that capacity of data to be handledbecomes gigantic. For example, as for moving picture data, etc. whichexceeds 8 G bytes, it is impossible to cope with such picture data bythe conventional data recording method using the CPIO command. For thisreason, technologies capable of recording or reproducing even a file ofsize exceeding a conventional size in a manner in conformity with theformat of the CPIO are expected.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of such actualcircumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide adata recording apparatus, a data recording method, a data reproducingapparatus and a data reproducing method which can be used for recordingand reproduction of even a file having the size which exceeds aconventional size in conformity with the CPIO format.

To achieve the above-described object, a data recording apparatusaccording to this invention comprises capacity judging means for judgingwhether or not the size of a file is a predetermined value or more,first file forming means for, in the case where the capacity judgingmeans judges that the size of the file is less than the predeterminedvalue, forming an archive file of a standard form to which attributeinformation where the size of the file is represented by octal numeralis added, second file forming means for, in the case where the capacityjudging means judges that the size of the file is the predeterminedvalue or more, forming an archive file of an expanded form to whichattribute information where the size of the file is represented byhexadecimal numeral and including identification symbol indicatinghexadecimal representation is added, and recording means for, in thecase where the capacity judging means judges that the size of the fileis less than the predetermined value, recording on a medium the archivefile of the standard form formed by the first file forming means, whilein the case where the capacity judging means judges that the size of thefile is the predetermined value or more, recording on the medium thearchive file of the expanded form formed by the second file formingmeans.

A data recording method according to the present invention comprises acapacity judgment step of judging whether or not the size of a file is apredetermined value or more, a first file formation step in which, inthe case where it is judged at the capacity judgment step that the sizeof the file is less than the predetermined value, an archive file of astandard form to which attribute information where the size of the fileis represented by octal numeral is added is formed, a second fileformation step in which, in the case where it is judged at the capacityjudgment step that the size of the file is the predetermined value ormore, an archive file of an expanded form to which attribute informationwhere the size of the file is represented by hexadecimal numeral andincluding identification symbol indicating hexadecimal representation isadded is formed, and a recording step in which, in the case where it isjudged at the capacity judgment step that the size of the file is lessthan the predetermined value, the archive file of the standard formformed at the first file formation step is recorded on a medium, whilein the case where it is judged at the capacity judgment step that thesize of the file is the predetermined value or more, the archive file ofthe expanded form formed at the second file formation step is recordedon the medium.

A data reproducing apparatus according to the present invention isadapted for reproducing an archive file recorded on a medium by theabove data recording apparatus, and comprises judging means for judgingwhether or not attribute information added to the archive file recordedon the medium includes identification symbol indicating hexadecimalrepresentation, first reproducing means for, in the case where it isjudged by the judging means that the attribute information does notinclude identification symbol indicating hexadecimal representation,reproducing the archive file as an archive file of a standard formhaving attribute information represented by octal numeral, and secondreproducing means for, in the case where it is judged by the judgingmeans that the attribute information includes identification symbolindicating hexadecimal representation, reproducing the archive file asan archive file of an expanded form having attribute informationrepresented by hexadecimal numeral.

A data reproducing method according to the present invention is one forreproducing archive file recorded on a medium by the above datarecording method, and comprises a judgment step of judging whether ornot attribute information added to an archive file recorded on themedium includes identification symbol indicating hexadecimalrepresentation, a first reproduction step in which, in the case where itis judged at the judgment step that the attribute information does notinclude identification symbol indicating hexadecimal representation, thearchive file is reproduced as an archive file of a standard form havingattribute information represented by octal numeral, and a secondreproduction step in which, in the case where it is judged at thejudgment step that the attribute information includes identificationsymbol indicating hexadecimal representation, the archive file isreproduced as an archive file of an expanded form having attributeinformation represented by hexadecimal numeral.

A data recording apparatus according to the present invention comprisescapacity judging means for judging whether or not the size of a file isa predetermined value or more, first file forming means for, in the casewhere the capacity judging means judges that the size of the file isless than the predetermined value, forming an archive file of a standardform to which attribute information where the size of the file isrepresented by octal numeral 11 byte length is added, second fileforming means for, in the case where the capacity judging means judgesthat the size of the file is the predetermined value or more, forming anarchive file of an expanded form to which attribute information where aspecific character is set at leading byte and the remaining 10 bytes areused to represent the size of the file by hexadecimal numeral is added,and recording means for, in the case where the capacity judging meansjudges that the size of the file is less than the predetermined value,recording on a medium the archive file of the standard form formed bythe first file forming means, while in the case where the capacityjudging means judges that the size of the file is the predeterminedvalue or more, recording on the medium the archive file of the expandedform formed by the second file forming means.

A data recording method according to the present invention comprises acapacity judgment step of judging whether or not the size of file is apredetermined value or more, a first file formation step in which, inthe case where it is judged at the capacity judgment step that the sizeof the file is less than the predetermined value, an archive file of astandard form to which attribute information where the size of the fileis represented by octal numeral 11 byte length is added is formed, asecond file formation step in which, in the case where it is judged atthe capacity judgment step that the size of the file is thepredetermined value or more, an archive file of an expanded form towhich attribute information where a specific character is set at leadingbyte and the remaining 10 bytes are used to represent the size of thefile by hexadecimal numeral, and a recording step in which, in the casewhere it is judged at the capacity judgment step that the size of thefile is less than the predetermined value, the archive file of thestandard form formed at the first file formation step is recorded on amedium, while in the case where it is judged at the capacity judgmentstep that the size of the file is the predetermined value or more, thearchive file of the expanded form formed at the second file formationstep is recorded on the medium.

A data reproducing apparatus according to the present invention isadapted for reproducing an archive file recorded on a medium by theabove data recording apparatus, and comprises judging means for judgingwhether or not a specific character is set at leading byte of attributeinformation added to the archive file recorded on the medium, firstreproducing means for, in the case where it is judged by the judgingmeans that the specific character is not set at the leading byte of theattribute information, reproducing the archive file as an archive fileof a standard form having attribute information represented by octalnumeral 11 byte length, and second reproducing means for, in the casewhere it is judged by the judging means that the specific character isset at the leading byte of the attribute information, reproducing thearchive file as an archive file of an expanded form having attributeinformation where 10 bytes succeeding to the leading byte arerepresented by hexadecimal numeral.

A data reproducing method according to the present invention is one forreproducing an archive file recorded on a medium by the above datarecording method , and comprises a judgment step of judging whether ornot a specific character is set at leading byte of attribute informationadded to the archive file recorded on the medium, a first reproductionstep in which, in the case where it is judged at the judgment step thatthe specific character is not set at the leading byte of the attributeinformation, the archive file is reproduced as an archive file of astandard form having attribute information represented by octal numeral11 byte length, and a second reproduction step in which, in the casewhere it is judged at the judgment step that the specific character isset at the leading byte of the attribute information, the archive fileis reproduced as an archive file of an expanded form having attributeinformation where 10 bytes succeeding to the leading byte arerepresented by hexadecimal numeral.

In this invention, such an approach is employed to judge whether or notthe size of file is a predetermined value or more, whereby when the sizeof file is less than the predetermined value, an archive file of astandard form to which attribute information where the size of file isrepresented by octal numeral is added is formed to record such a file ona medium, while when the size of the file is the predetermined value ormore, an archive file of an expanded form to which attribute informationwhere the size of the file is represented by hexadecimal numeral andincluding identification symbol indicating hexadecimal representation isadded is formed to record such a file on the medium. Accordingly, evenin the case where the file size exceeds the conventional file size, itis possible to record such a file in conformity with the CPIO format.

In addition, in this invention, such an approach is employed to judgewhether or not attribute information added to an archive file recordedon a medium includes identification symbol indicating hexadecimalrepresentation, whereby in the case where such attribute informationdoes not include identification symbol, the archive file is reproducedas an archive file of a standard form having attribute informationrepresented by octal numeral, while in the case where such attributeinformation includes identification symbol, an archive file isreproduced as an archive file of an expanded form having attributeinformation represented by hexadecimal numeral. Accordingly, even in thecase where the file size exceeds the conventional file size, it ispossible to reproduce such a file in conformity with the CPIO format.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing configuration of a data recordingapparatus to which this invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining recording format.

FIG. 3 is a view showing configuration of archive file AF.

FIG. 4 is a view showing structure of header HD.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining operation of the data recordingapparatus.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A data recording apparatus, a data recording method, a data reproducingapparatus and a data reproducing method according to this invention willnow be described with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the data recordingapparatus to which this invention is applied. As shown in this FIG. 1,an input unit 1 generates command input corresponding to keyboardoperation or event input corresponding to mouse operation. A main memoryunit 2 is comprised of, e.g., a RAM, and comprises a system area forstoring a set of UNIX (Registered Trade Mark) system programs and a workarea used as a work area of a CPU 3. The CPU 3 executes any one of theset of system programs stored in the system area of the main memory unit2 in accordance with command (or event input)) from the input unit 1 tocontrol respective units of the apparatus.

For example, the CPU 3 is operative so that when command input (or eventinput) for starting recording processing program is delivered from theinput unit 1, it reads out, from a magnetic disc unit 5, a file to berecorded which is designated by command input (or event input) to storesuch a file into the work area of the main memory unit 2 through aninput/output channel 4, and converts, in that work area, the file to berecorded into an archive file of CPIO format. Further, the archive filethus generated is read out from the work area and is transferred to amagnetic tape unit 6 through the input/output channel 4.

At the magnetic tape unit 6, an archive file AF is recorded onto amagnetic tape by the recording format shown in FIG. 2. Namely,respective archive files AF are sequentially recorded by CPIO formatwhere file mark FM for identifying a file is added at the back end in auser area of the magnetic tape, wherein data EOT indicating tape end isprovided at the tape trailing end.

The archive file AF of CPIO format is a file obtained by collectingplural files into one file. In a more practical sense, as shown in FIG.3, such a archive file has a form in which headers HD and trailers TRare respectively added before and after respective file data DATA tocarry out management of respective file contents and archive trailer ATRis also added at the trailing end (termination) of the archive file AFitself to carry out management of the file content.

These header HD, trailer TR and archive trailer ATR have all the samestructure. In those structures, by the form shown in FIG. 4, forexample, file management items such as a file name and a file size, etc.are defined. In FIG 4 c_filesz [11] consists of 11 bytes and c_filesz[11] defines file size of file data DATA corresponding thereto. By theform shown in FIG. 4, ordinarily, management of the file size as far as8, 589, 923, 591 bytes [[(8G-1)]] 8 gigabytes at the maximum which canbe represented by octal numeral 11 bytes is carried out.

After the main point of this invention is described, operation of thedata recording apparatus for recording data on the basis of this mainpoint will be explained.

Initially, the main point of this invention resides in that, in theabove-described c_(—filesz [)11], specific character (e.g., “X”) exceptfor “0” to “7” is set at the leading byte and the remaining 10 bytes areused to define file size by hexadecimal representation (notation). Whensuch an approach is employed, it becomes possible to carry outmanagement of the file size of capacity which can be represented byhexadecimal 10 bytes, i.e., 1, 099, 511, 627, 775 bytes (IT-1) at themaximum while maintaining form in conformity with CPIO format. Theoperation of the data recording apparatus for implementing such aprocessing will be explained with reference to FIG. 5.

When command input (or event input) for starting recording processingprogram to which this invention is applied is delivered from the inputunit 1, the CPU 3 executes recording processing shown in FIG. 5. At stepS1, the CPU 3 judges whether or not the file size of file to be recordedwhich is designated by command input (or event input) is (8G-1) bytes ormore. When the file size of the file to be recorded is less than (8G-1)bytes as the result of the judgment, judgment result of the step S1 is“NO”. Thus, the CPU 3 causes the processing to proceed to step S2.

At the step S2, the CPU 3 constructs header HD, trailer TR and archivetrailer ATR as the standard form where c_filesz [11] which defines thefile size is represented by octal numeral.

Further, processing by the CPU 3 proceeds to step S3. Thus, the CPU 3reads out, from the magnetic disc unit 5, a file to be recorded which isdesignated by command input (or event input) to store such a file intowork area of the main memory unit 2 through the input/output channel 4.Subsequently, at step S4, the CPU 3 converts the file to be recordedwhich has been stored in the work area into an archive file AF of thestandard form thereafter to read out this archive file AF of thestandard form from the work area to transfer it to the magnetic tapeunit 6 through the input/output channel 4, and carries out instructionto record it on the magnetic tape unit 6. Thus, the magnetic tape unit 6records the archive file AF onto the magnetic tape by CPIO format in amanner similar to the prior art.

When the file size of the file to be recorded is (8G-1) bytes or more asthe result of the judgment, judgment result of the step S1 becomes“YES”. Thus, the CPU 3 allows the processing to proceed to step S5. Atthe step S5, the CPU 3 constructs header HD, trailer TR and archivetrailer ATR as the expanded form where specific character (e.g.,“X”)except for “0” to “7” is set at the leading byte of c_filesz [11] whichdefines the file size and the remaining 10 bytes are used to defines thefile size by hexadecimal numeral.

Further, at step S6, the CPU 3 reads out, from the magnetic disc unit 5,a file to be recorded which is designated by command input (or eventinput) to store such a file into the work area of the main memory unit 2through the input/output channel 4. Subsequently, the CPU 3 converts, atstep S7, the file to be recorded which has been stored in the work areainto an archive file AF of the expanded form thereafter to read out thisarchive file AF of the expanded form from the work area to transfer sucha file to the magnetic tape unit 6 through the input/output channel 4,and to carry out instruction to record it on the magnetic tape unit 6.Thus, the magnetic tape unit 6 records the archive file AF of theexpanded form in conformity with the CPIO format onto the magnetic tape.

As described above, in accordance with this invention, when the filesize of a file to be recorded is less than 8 gigabytes, an archive fileAF of the standard form representing c_filesz [11] which defines thefile size by octal numeral is formed and is recorded. On the other hand,when the file size is the 8 gigabytes, or more, an archive file AF ofthe expanded form where specific character (e.g., “X”) except for “0” to“7” is set at the leading byte of c_filesz [11] which defines the filesize, and the remaining 10 bytes are used to represent the file size byhexadecimal numeral is formed and is recorded. Accordingly, the datarecording apparatus to which this invention is applied can record thearchive file AF in conformity with the CPIO format even if the file sizeexceeds a conventional file size.

On the other hand, the data reproducing apparatus for reading out anarchive file AF recorded on the recording medium by this invention has afunction or a circuit to judge whether or not specific character (e.g.,“X”) is set at the leading byte of c_filesz [11] which defines the filesize in header HD, whereby when specific character is not set, thearchive file is read out as an archive file AF of the standard form,while when specific character is set, an archive file is read out as anarchive file AF of the expanded form. The data reproducing apparatusthus constituted can reproduce the archive file AF in conformity withCPIO format even if the file size exceeds the conventional file size.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In the data recording apparatus and the data recording method accordingto this invention, whether or not the size of a file is a predeterminedvalue or more is judged. When the size of the file is less than thepredetermined value, an archive file of a standard form to whichattribute information where the size of the file is represented by octalnumeral is added is formed to record such a file onto a medium. On theother hand, when the size of the file is the predetermined value ormore, an archive file of an expanded form to which attribute informationwhere the size of the file is represented by hexadecimal numeral andincluding identification symbol indicating hexadecimal representation isadded is formed to record such a file onto a medium. Accordingly, evenwhen the size of the file exceeds a conventional file size, it ispossible to record the archive file in conformity with the CPIO format.

Moreover, in the data reproducing apparatus and the data reproducingmethod according to this invention, whether or not attribute informationadded to the archive file recorded on the medium includes identificationsymbol indicating hexadecimal representation is judged. In the casewhere attribute information does not include identification symbol, t hearchive file is reproduced as an archive file of the standard formhaving attribute information represented by octal numeral. On the otherhand, in the case where attribute information includes identificationsymbol, an archive file is reproduced as an archive file of an expandedform having attribute information represented by hexadecimal numeral.Accordingly, even when the size of the file exceeds a conventional filesize, it is possible to reproduce the archive file in conformity withthe CPIO format.

Further, in the data recording apparatus and the data recording methodaccording to this invention, whether or not the size of a file is apredetermined value or more is judged. When the size of the file is lessthan the predetermined value, an archive file of a standard form towhich attribute information where the size of the file is represented byoctal numeral 11 byte length is added is formed to record such a fileonto a medium. On the other hand, when the size of the file is thepredetermined value or more, an archive file of an expanded form towhich attribute information where a specific character is set at leadingbyte and the remaining 10 bytes are used to represent the size of thefile by hexadecimal numeral is added is formed to record such a fileonto the medium. Accordingly, even when the size of the file exceeds aconventional file size, it is possible to record the archive file inconformity with the CPIO format.

In addition, in the data reproducing apparatus and the data reproducingmethod according to this invention, whether or not a specific characteris set at leading byte of attribute information added to an archive filerecorded on a medium is judged. When the specific character is not setat the leading byte, the archive file is reproduced as an archive fileof a standard form having attribute information represented by octalnumeral 11 byte length. On the other hand, when the specific characteris set at the leading byte, the archive file is reproduced as an archivefile of an expanded form having attribute information where 10 bytessucceeding to the leading byte are represented by hexadecimal numeral.Accordingly, even when the size of the file exceeds a conventional filesize, it is possible to reproduce the archive file in conformity withthe CPIO format.

1. A data recording apparatus comprising: capacity judging means forjudging whether or not a size of a file is a predetermined value ormore; first file forming means for, in the case where the capacityjudging means judges that the size of the file is less than thepredetermined value, forming an archive file of a first form to whichattribute information where the size of the file is represented by octalnumeral is added; second file forming means for, in the case where thecapacity judging means judges that the size of the file is thepredetermined value or more, forming an archive file of a second, largerform to which attribute information where the size of the file isrepresented by hexadecimal numeral and including identification symbolindicating hexadecimal representation is added; and recording means for,in the case where the capacity judging means judges that the size of thefile is less than the predetermined value, recording on a medium thearchive file of the first form formed by the first file forming means,while in the case where the capacity judging means judges that the sizeof the file is the predetermined value or more, recording on the mediumthe archive file of the second form formed by the second file formingmeans.
 2. A data reproducing apparatus adapted for reproducing anarchive file recorded on a medium by the data recording apparatus as setforth in claim 1, the data reproducing apparatus comprising: judgingmeans for judging whether or not attribute information added to thearchive file recorded on the medium includes identification symbolindicating hexadecimal representation; first reproducing means for, inthe case where it is judged by the judging means that the attributeinformation does not include identification symbol indicatinghexadecimal representation, reproducing the archive file as an archivefile of a first form having attribute information represented by octalnumeral; and second reproducing means for, in the case where it isjudged by the judging means that the attribute information includesidentification symbol indicating hexadecimal representation, reproducingthe archive file as an archive file of a second form having attributeinformation represented by hexadecimal numeral.
 3. A data recordingmethod comprising: a capacity judgment step of judging whether or not asize of a file is a predetermined value or more; a first file formationstep in which, in the case where it is judged at the capacity judgmentstep that the size of the file is less than the predetermined value, anarchive file of a first form to which attribute information where thesize of the file is represented by octal numeral is added is formed; asecond file formation step in which, in the case where it is judged atthe capacity judgment step that the size of the file is thepredetermined value or more, an archive file of a second, larger form towhich attribute information where the size of the file is represented byhexadecimal numeral and including identification symbol indicatinghexadecimal representation is added is formed; and a recording step inwhich, in the case where it is judged at the capacity judgment step thatthe size of the file is less than the predetermined value, the archivefile of the first form formed at the first file formation step isrecorded on a medium, while in the case where it is judged at thecapacity judgment step that the size of the file is the predeterminedvalue or more, the archive file of the second form formed at the secondfile formation step is recorded on the medium.
 4. A data reproducingmethod of reproducing archive file recorded on a medium by the datarecording method as set forth in claim 3, the data reproducing methodcomprising: a judgment step of judging whether or not attributeinformation added to an archive file recorded on the medium includesidentification symbol indicating hexadecimal representation; a firstreproduction step in which, in the case where it is judged at thejudgment step that the attribute information does not includeidentification symbol indicating hexadecimal representation, the archivefile is reproduced as an archive file of a first form having attributeinformation represented by octal numeral; and a second reproduction stepin which, in the case where it is judged at the judgment step that theattribute information includes identification symbol indicatinghexadecimal representation, the archive file is reproduced as an archivefile of a second form having attribute information represented byhexadecimal numeral.
 5. A data recording apparatus comprising: capacityjudging means for judging whether or not a size of a file is apredetermined value or more; first file forming means for, in the casewhere the capacity judging means judges that the size of the file isless than the predetermined value, forming an archive file of a firstform to which attribute information where the size of the file isrepresented by octal numeral 11 byte length is added; second fileforming means for, in the case where the capacity judging means judgesthat the size of the file is the predetermined value or more, forming anarchive file of a second, larger form to which attribute informationwhere a specific character is set at leading byte and the remaining 10bytes are used to represent the size of the file by hexadecimal numeralis added; and recording means for, in the case where the capacityjudging means judges that the size of the file is less than thepredetermined value, recording on a medium the archive file of the firstform formed by the first file forming means, while in the case where thecapacity judging means judges that the size of the file is thepredetermined value or more, recording on the medium the archive file ofthe second form formed by the second file forming means.
 6. A datareproducing apparatus adapted for reproducing an archive file recordedon a medium by the data recording apparatus as set forth in claim 5, thedata reproducing apparatus comprising: judging means for judging whetheror not a specific character is set at leading byte of attributeinformation added to the archive file recorded on the medium; firstreproducing means for, in the case where it is judged by the judgingmeans that the specific character is not set at the leading byte of theattribute information, reproducing the archive file as an archive fileof a first form having attribute information represented by octalnumeral 11 byte length; and second reproducing means for, in the casewhere it is judged by the judging means that the specific character isset at the leading byte of the attribute information, reproducing thearchive file as an archive file of a second form having attributeinformation where 10 bytes succeeding to the leading byte arerepresented by hexadecimal numeral.
 7. A data recording methodcomprising: a capacity judgment step of judging whether or not a size ofa file is a predetermined value or more; a first file formation step inwhich, in the case where it is judged at the capacity judgment step thatthe size of the file is less than the predetermined value, an archivefile of a first form to which attribute information where the size ofthe file is represented by octal numeral 11 byte length is added isformed; a second file formation step in which, in the case where it isjudged at the capacity judgment step that the size of the file is thepredetermined value or more, an archive file of a second, larger form towhich attribute information where a specific character is set at leadingbyte and the remaining 10 bytes are used to represent the size of thefile by hexadecimal numeral; and a recording step in which, in the casewhere it is judged at the capacity judgment step that the size of thefile is less than the predetermined value, the archive file of the firstform formed at the first file formation step is recorded on a medium,while in the case where it is judged at the capacity judgment step thatthe size of the file is the predetermined value or more, the archivefile of the second form formed at the second file formation step isrecorded on the medium.
 8. A data reproducing method of reproducing anarchive file recorded on a medium by the data recording method as setforth in claim 7, the data reproducing method comprising: a judgmentstep of judging whether or not a specific character is set at leadingbyte of attribute information added to the archive file recorded on themedium; a first reproduction step in which, in the case where it isjudged at the judgment step that the specific character is not set atthe leading byte of the attribute information, the archive file isreproduced as an archive file of a first form having attributeinformation represented by octal numeral 11 byte length; and a secondreproduction step in which, in the case where it is judged at thejudgment step that the specific character is set at the leading byte ofthe attribute information, the archive file is reproduced as an archivefile of a second form having attribute information where 10 bytessucceeding to the leading byte are represented by hexadecimal numeral.